Chicago Gourmet FAQ

In 15 days, the first-ever Chicago Gourmet festival will kick off in Millennium Park. Here's what you need to know.

The bulk of Chicago Gourmet will take place 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Sept. 27 and 28 on the Great Lawn, which stretches south from the Frank Gehry-designed Pritzker Pavilion. The grassy area will be ringed with tents featuring top Chicago chefs and wineries from around the world. There also will be a series of cooking demonstrations.

In addition, there will be an exclusive Opening Night event ($255) on Sept. 26; a Family Village ($30) with tastings and activities geared to kids; a Grand Cru tasting Saturday and Sunday ($175) featuring exclusive wines; a Worlds of Flavor Pavilion focusing on Latin flavors ($95), and a series of small-group cooking and wine seminars ($30-$90).

It can be a little confusing, so here are a few Frequently Asked Questions:

Who's doing the cooking?

Unlike wine and food events elsewhere in the country, Chicago Gourmet focuses most of its attention on Chicago's culinary stars. About 30 chefs will contribute samples on a rotating basis throughout each day. Among those scheduled to appear are Michael Altenberg (Bistro Campagne, Crust), Rick Bayless (Frontera Grill, Topolobampo), Kendal Duque (Sepia), James Gottwald (Rockit Ranch), Paul Kahan (Blackbird), Tony Mantuano (Spiaggia), Arun Sampanthavivat (Arun's), Jackie Shen (Red Light) and Takashi Yagihashi (Takashi). There also will be a few out-of-town guest chefs, and international chefs featured in the Sister Cities tent.

How good are the wines?

"It's a well-rounded list, from classic Californias such as Beaulieu Vineyard, to international icons like Italy's Angelo Gaja to the unexpected -- New Mexico's Gruet Winery and Domaine Skouras from Greece," says Tribune food and wine critic Bill Daley. About 150 wines will be featured.

What does my $150 admission get me?

A $150 ticket is good for a single-day admission to the Great Lawn, for up to seven hours (11 a.m.-6 p.m.) of food and wine sampling at the chef and winery tents, as well as tents featuring restaurants and specialty food retailers (Peninsula Chicago, Courtright's, Pastoral Artisan Cheese and Fox & Obel, for example). Also included are the 30-minute cooking demonstrations taking place on the Pritzker Pavilion's main stage. A two-day pass costs $250, saving you $50.

I got kids. Don't tell me it's $150 for me plus $30 for each of them?

No. Admission to the Whole Foods Family Village (east of the Great Lawn area) is $30 per adult; a paying adult may escort up to three children (under age 12) free. You do not need a $150 general admission ticket to buy a Family Village admission.

Do I get into the Worlds of Flavor Pavilion with a general-admission ticket?

No. This event, presented by the Culinary Institute of America, will feature chefs from across the country, as well as Mexico and Peru, giving food demonstrations and talking informally about their food. Expect the ambience of a marketplace, with food, wine, music and dancing, in the pavilion which will be located on the Rooftop Terrace of the Harris Theater. The cost: $95.

How much are the seminars?

Cost is $30 each for the 45-minute Food Seminars, which will take place at The Gage restaurant (24 S. Michigan Ave.), and cover topics such as Green Market Cooking and Italian Bar Food. Wine Seminars, also 45-minutes, are priced at $60 and $90 each. All seminars have limited enrollment. You don't need a general-admission ticket to attend the seminars.

What if I'm really into the wine?

Then pony up the extra $175 for one of the Grand Cru tastings, which last 90-minutes each and feature samples of some of the most sought-after wines of the world. There are strict enrollment limits on the Grand Cru tastings.

Can't I get everything for one price?

Nope. But the Connoisseur Weekend Package, $400, gets you into Opening Night, the Great Lawn on both Saturday and Sunday, and your pick of any two seminars. That'll save you at least $150, maybe $285.

For more information, updates and to buy tickets go to chicagogourmet.org or call 866-840-8822.